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In Beyond the Wasteland three highly respected economists trace the causes of America's declining productivity, show how the accepted economic prescriptions fail to address the central crises of the system, and propose a programme for a fully democratic reform designed to regenerate the world economy . English readers will find the analysis highly relevant to their own situation.
Bringing together leading interpreters of Zygmunt Bauman’s sociology, this volume thinks with and beyond Bauman’s work in order to show its continued relevance as a theory in its own right, as an object of criticism and as a stepping stone towards a fuller understanding of contemporary society. The volume deals with some proposed omissions and absences in Bauman’s sociology, with chapters comparing Bauman’s ideas to those of other prominent social thinkers as well as chapters devoted to teasing out some problems and pitfalls in his work. Paying attention to central concepts and themes of Bauman’s thought, authors engage with various aspects of his work, considering potential deficiencies in his ethical perspective, his neglect of the religious dimensions of modernity, his lack of consideration for ethnicity and gender, his overlooking the importance of socialisation in liquid modernity and his problematic argument for individual choice and freedom in a world that is increasingly closed down by consumer capitalism. Beyond Bauman aspires to show that despite Bauman's status as a key sociological thinker, there are also certain deficiencies in his work demand critical discussion. It will be of use to scholars of sociology, contemporary society, social theory and modernity.
NOW IN PAPERBACK—with a new preface by the author An insider’s account of why the CIA is ill-prepared to protect America, and why it must be replaced without delay * “A devastating portrait of the agency’s culture—with details that only an insider would know.” —David Ignatius, Washington Post columnist and author of Body of Lies “Faddis, a career CIA operations officer, pulls no punches in this provocative critique of the iconic and dysfunctional spy agency. . . . In a world where threats are multiplying and becoming more complex, [his] bleak assessment of the CIA should be required reading.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) In Beyond Repair, one of the Central Intelligence Agency’s most respected former operatives mounts a scathing cri­tique of the preparedness of today’s CIA—and, spe­cifically, the Directorate of Operations at its core—to defend America against the dizzying dangers of the twenty-first century. In a compelling blend of analy­sis and fascinating true-life stories, Charles S. Faddis argues that the CIA has devolved into a low-risk or, often, no-risk bureaucracy of careerists whose mantra might be summed up thus: “Don’t fall.” He discusses the birth of the CIA, how the agency works from the inside out, why things have gone awry—and how to build a new entity that will maintain the midnight watch, so Americans can sleep well at night.
The Maya. The Romans. The great dynasties of ancient China. It is generally believed that these once mighty empires eventually crumbled and disappeared. A recent trend in archaeology, however, focusing on what happened during and after the decline of once powerful societies has found social resilience and transformation instead of collapse. In Beyond Collapse: Archaeological Perspectives on Resilience, Revitalization, and Transformation in Complex Societies, editor Ronald K. Faulseit gathers scholars with diverse theoretical perspectives to present innovative approaches to understanding the decline and reorganization of complex societies. Essays in the book are arranged into five sections. The first section addresses previous research on the subject of collapse and reorganization as well as recent and historic theoretical trends. In the second section, contributors look at collapse and resilience through the concepts of collective action, eventful archaeology, and resilience theory. The third section introduces critical analyses of the effectiveness of resilience theory as a heuristic tool for modeling the phenomena of collapse and resilience. In the fourth section, contributors examine long-term adaptive strategies employed by prehistoric societies to cope with stresses. Essays in the fifth section make connections to contemporary research on post-decline societies in a variety of time periods and geographic locations. Contributors consider collapse and reorganization not as unrelated phenomena but as integral components in the evolution of complex societies. Using archaeological data to interpret how ancient civilizations responded to various stresses—including environmental change, warfare, and the fragmentation of political institutions—contributors discuss not only what leads societies to collapse but also why some societies are resilient and others are not, as well as how societies reorganize after collapse. The implications of the fate of these societies for modern nations cannot be underestimated. Putting in context issues we face today, such as climate change, lack of social diversity, and the failure of modern states, Beyond Collapse is an essential volume for readers interested in human-environment interaction and in the collapse—and subsequent reorganization—of human societies.
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"Henry Disney's is, to borrow a phrase, a beautiful mind, and also a tough mind." So wrote Kitty Ferguson in her review of his sixth collection. This seventh collection of poems reinforces this perception. His delight in nature, ideas and humanity is never sentimental. His poems are as challenging as ever as he ranges over his varied experience and encounters with a diversity of people. Topics include being on active service in Cyprus in his youth, his deep commitment to his scientific work and evolution, his hard headed Christian faith, his occasional forensic work, his grandchildren, politics and a variety of situations. Ranging from limericks to a poem of more than 100 lines, all are skilfully crafted and, even when handling specialized notions, are never obscure. The range of topics covered and variety of styles aim to communicate, to challenge on occasions but above all to give pleasure. Book reviews online: PublishedBestsellers website.
Is rapid world population growth actually coming to an end? As population growth and its consequences have become front-page issues, projections of slowing growth from such institutions as the United Nations and the World Bank have been called into question. Beyond Six Billion asks what such projections really say, why they say it, whether they can be trusted, and whether they can be improved. The book includes analysis of how well past U.N. and World Bank projections have panned out, what errors have occurred, and why they have happened. Focusing on fertility as one key to accurate projections, the committee examines the transition from high, constant fertility to low fertility levels and discusses whether developing countries will eventually attain the very low levels of births now observed in the industrialized world. Other keys to accurate projections, predictions of lengthening life span and of the impact of international migration on specific countries, are also explored in detail. How good are our methods of population forecasting? How can we cope with the inevitable uncertainty? What population trends can we anticipate? Beyond Six Billion illuminates not only the forces that shape population growth but also the accuracy of the methods we use to quantify these forces and the uncertainty surrounding projections. The Committee on Population was established by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 1983 to bring the knowledge and methods of the population sciences to bear on major issues of science and public policy. The committee's work includes both basic studies of fertility, health and mortality, and migration; and applied studies aimed at improving programs for the public health and welfare in the United States and in developing countries. The committee also fosters communication among researchers in different disciplines and countries and policy makers in government, international agencies, and private organizations. The work of the committee is made possible by funding from several government agencies and private foundations.
Deep space exploration vessel, Orion, is on a routine mission when a devastating fault occurs. Second Engineer Peter Thornton scrambles into an escape pod with only moments to spare. Later, he wakes up on an unfamiliar planet populated by dangerous life forms. After enduring merciless terrain in solitude for almost a year, he is taken by an unknown species. He comes to in a zoo, an exhibit with alien keepers and no obvious means of escape. Just as he finds a weak spot and plots his getaway, a beautiful enigmatic female, Sabetha, is placed in his cage. Though she is a strange being, and he’s unsure whether or not she can be trusted, he’s inexplicably drawn to her. When the opportunity comes, Peter and Sabetha flee with nothing more than a short-term plan. Together, he and Sabetha must overcome betrayal and teach her peaceable people what it means to be warriors. They may have a fighting chance, but time is running out…
Prominent economists present detailed analyses of the conditions that made Greece vulnerable to economic crisis and offer policy recommendations for comprehensive and radical change. More than eight years after the global financial crisis began, the economy of Greece shows little sign of recovery, and its position in the eurozone seems tenuous. Between 2008 and 2014, incomes in Greece shrank by more than 25 percent, homes lost more than a third of their value, and the unemployment rate reached 27 percent. Most articles on Greece in the media focus on the effects of austerity, repayment of its debt, and its future in the eurozone. In Beyond Austerity: Reforming the Greek Economy, leading Greek economists from institutions both within and outside Greece, take a broader and deeper view of the Greek crisis, examining the pathologies that made Greece vulnerable to the crisis and the implications for the entire eurozone. Each chapter takes on a specific policy area, examining it in terms of Greece's economic reality and offering possible directions for policy. The topics range from macroeconomic issues to markets and their regulation to finance to the public sector. Individual chapters address the costs and benefits of participation in the eurozone, Greece's international competitiveness, taxation, pensions, the labor market, privatization, product markets, finance, education, healthcare, corruption, the justice system, and public administration. The contributors argue that Greek institutions require a deep overhaul rather than quick fixes to enable long-term growth and prosperity.
What is the New Economy, what makes it new, and what are the implications for antitrust, regulation and macroeconomic policy? Providing a non-technical and compelling analysis of the modern macro-economy, the contributors to this volume, eminent scholars all, provide their views on the New Economy from a variety of perspectives. The phrase The New Economy means many things to many people. It is often used to refer to the information economy, the high-tech economy, or to the explosive growth of the World Wide Web. It has also been used to refer to the expansion and stock market boom of the last decade. Despite these confusions and excesses in the term s usage, there is indeed something new about the New Economy. The initial set of three chapters explores what may be the defining feature the resurgence of productivity growth in the United States in the 1990s and its link to the IT revolution. Macroeconomic policy challenges are also discussed. The second set of papers concentrates on what is perhaps the second defining feature of the New Economy the idea of network economies. The contributors consider challenges for regulatory policy, look at internet pricing policies, and challenge some aspects of network economics. The volume concludes with a discussion of how the US postal service, an important exemplar of the changing world, responds to competition. Students, scholars and all those interested in gaining a better understanding of the global economy will find this volume a valuable resource.